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Abeid and Belkalem out of Algeria AFCON squad

Algeria duo Mehdi Abeid and Essaid Belkalem have withdrawn from the Africa Cup of Nations due to injury.

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Written ByNicholas McGee

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Abeid sustained a broken toe while on duty for the north
Africans after being selected for their qualifying matches with
Ethiopia and Malawi in November.

Depsite the blow, Abeid was selected in Christian Gourcuff's
squad for the AFCON tournament in Equatorial Guinea, which starts
on January 17.

However, the Newcastle United midfielder has now been replaced
by the uncapped Ahmed Kashi of Metz - who had been on the standby
list for the competition.

Meanwhile, defender Belkalem - on loan at Trabzonspor - has been
deemed unfit to participate by the team's doctors due to a
hamstring injury sustained while playing for the Turkish Super Lig
side.

Algeria are looking to win the AFCON for a second time having
previously claimed the title in 1990. However, they have been drawn
in a difficult group alongside fellow former winners Ghana and
South Africa and 2002 finalists Senegal.

Gourcuff's men play their first Group C match against South
Africa in Mongomo on January 19.